The Woodlands Township invites residents and visitors alike to enjoy The Ice Rink at The Woodlands Town Center, this year presented by Woodforest National Bank, opening for daily enjoyment Saturday, November 19, 2021 through Monday, January 17, 2022.

“We are excited about partnering with The Ice Rink at The Woodlands Town Center,” says Jay Dreibelbis, President and CEO of Woodforest National Bank. “This facility helps families and friends ring in the holiday season, and creates a true winter feeling throughout the holidays every year. Woodforest Bank is proud to be a part of that tradition.”

The Ice Rink at The Woodlands Town Center is located at 2005 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands, 77380, near the north gate entry of The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion and the intersection of Lake Robbins Drive and Six Pines Drive. The 21,000-square-foot permanent multipurpose facility features ice skating in a main room with lighting, a state-of-the-art sound system, tables for parties and concessions.

Hours of operation are Monday to Thursday from 3 to 9 p.m., Friday from 3 to 11 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. The Ice Rink is open during special holiday hours on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and school holidays (based on the Conroe ISD calendar). 

Admission for a two-hour skate session is $12.50 for adults and $6 for children 5 and under. All prices include skate rental. Helmet and walker (children’s skate trainer) rentals are also available for an additional cost. Advance booking online is highly encouraged to ensure capacity is not met for a desired skate time. For full details including hours, pricing and to purchase tickets online, please visit www.thewoodlandsicerink.com.

Table rentals and reservations are available for parties or corporate events. For rental information, reservations or other details, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . 

Ice Rink guests should practice social distancing, refrain from gathering in large groups and continue to follow all guidelines established by the CDC. Face coverings are optional. Please note all information is subject to change, pending local, state and federal Orders or Declarations.   

The Woodlands Township will be celebrating the start of the holiday season at the annual Lighting of the Doves festival Saturday, November 20, 2021, from 3 to 9 p.m. at Town Green Park, located at 2099 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands, 77380. 

The Lighting of the Doves festival is a long-standing tradition in The Woodlands that heralds the beginning of the holiday season in the community. Symbolizing hope and peace for the holidays, the ceremonial illumination of the doves attracts thousands of residents and visitors each year. This event includes Santa Claus arriving in a special way via a Sleigh Boat.

Festival activities will include balloon art, craft activities with The Woodlands Children's Museum (while supplies last), face painting, live entertainment on two stages, strolling entertainment and snow play areas and snow slide ($5 wristband required for access. Wristbands can be purchased onsite at the event with cash or credit card. Please be advised if paying with cash, change will not be available). A live reindeer photo area, sponsored by America’s First ER, will also be available. The event will culminate with a special appearance by Santa Claus, sponsored by Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands, followed by a dazzling fireworks display.
 
Coolers, picnic baskets. blankets and lawn chairs are permitted. Glass is prohibited. Those planning to attend the event should practice social distancing, refrain from gathering is large groups and continue to follow all guidelines established by the CDC. Face coverings are optional. Please note all information is subject to change, pending local, state and federal Orders and Declarations. 

Lighting of the Doves is produced by The Woodlands Township Parks and Recreation Department and sponsored by The Howard Hughes Corporation®, Waste Management, Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands and America’s ER. 

For additional details, please visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/lightingofthedoves. 

The Brookwood Holiday store has returned to Hughes Landing® in The Woodlands® for a second consecutive season. The Brookwood Community, a non-profit educational, residential and entrepreneurial organization for adults with disabilities, has opened its seasonal pop-up store this fall through late January 2022 to sell a variety of beautiful handcrafted housewares, jewelry, food items, and holiday gifts made by Brookwood’s adults with disabilities, as well as their popular poinsettias.

“We are excited to partner again with The Brookwood Community and welcome back the Brookwood Holiday Store to Hughes Landing for the winter season,” said Jim Carman, President, Houston Region for The Howard Hughes Corporation. “Last year’s Holiday Store was a huge success for The Brookwood Community and provided vital support for this important organization; we look forward to this store being part of the holiday experience at Hughes Landing.”

The Brookwood Holiday Store is opening its storefront at 1950 Hughes Landing in Suite 200 on the ground retail level of One Lakes Edge multifamily community, adjacent to Whole Foods® Market in The Woodlands.

The holiday gift store will be open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 am to 5 pm. The Grand Opening event will be held Friday, October 29 and Saturday, October 30 from 10 am – 5 pm.  Enjoy sweet treats and a gift with purchase of $75 or more.

Support for The Brookwood Community is part of The Howard Hughes Corporation’s social responsibility program, HHCares, which encourages community-focused philanthropy through financial donations and employee volunteerism. Annually, HHCares donates and volunteers to over 180 causes of local non-profit organizations in the Greater Houston area.

The Volleyball School, a private sports training facility offering beginning through advanced skill training sessions for children ages 7 and up, announced today the opening of a new location in the Woodlands area. The Volleyball School will bring top-level coaching and skills training classes for boys and girls between the ages of 7 and 14 at the Beginner and Intermediate levels, with private classes available for more advanced students.

The Volleyball School currently offers volleyball skills training sessions tailored specifically for beginner, immediate, and advanced students. Past students have excelled at school and club teams as well as top volleyball programs across Katy, TX and the surrounding area.

 “Volleyball is extremely competitive, and every day more and more kids are expressing interest in learning the sport and wanting to compete at the club level. Our goal is to provide the necessary training for students to learn how to play volleyball and compete at a high level,” said Domingo Martinez, Managing Director of the Volleyball School.

Classes at the Woodlands location will begin on November 1. Beginner and intermediate classes will be offered on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:30-7:00pm and Saturdays from 9:00-10:30am.

Families can apply for the program on The Volleyball School website: https://www.thevolleyballschool.com/the-woodlands/

On Saturday, Novemeber 6, beginning at 10 am, Children’s Museum Houston will be magically transformed into a colorful, beautiful and bountiful Land of the Dead, bursting with incredible offerings of Mariachi, “sugar skulls” and marigolds in celebration of El Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).

El Día de los Muertos is a celebration of life!  It’s a time when families keep the memory of loved ones alive by remembering their essence in a beautifully decorated “ofrenda.”  This offering, replete of bread, fruit, and flowers, is believed to be enjoyed by the departed as they pay a holiday visit home!  

SPECIAL EVENTS:

Loco for “Coco”
Join Imelda and Hector during a “Coco”-inspired Day of the Dead celebration.
Event Time:  From 10 a.m. to 4 pm in Kids’ Hall Alcove.

La Calavera Workshops
Artist Christian Navarrete has a bone to pick with you!  Learn how to make a sugar skull masterpiece.
Event Time:  From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Alexander Art Academy.

Intempo Dance Ensemble
Honor the dearly departed with a choreography inspired by el Día de los Muertos.
Event Time:  At 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. in Brown Auditorium.

Mariachi Luna Llena
Join the Rice University Mariachi band for an unforgettable performance.
Event Time:  Noon in Museum entrance.

Sugar Skull Masks and Marigold Garlands
Revel in the majesty of the flowers and skulls used for the Day of the Dead celebration.
Event Time:  All day in Junktion.

Event festivities are included with general Museum admission: $12 per person and $11 for seniors 65+. Children under one and Museum Members receive free admission.  For more information and Play Safe guidelines, visit www.cmhouston.org or call (713) 522-1138.

Register your family for the YMCA Thanksgiving Morning Run Thru the Woods, presented by Gullo Dealearships, and help the Y and our community celebrate a “return to running and live events.”

For more than three decades, Run Thru The Woods has been one of the premier running and walking family events in Texas. The 2021 event will be held November 25 at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands Town Center. Designed for a wide variety of participants, categories and start times include a competitive one-mile Children’s Race for ages 12 and younger starting at 7:30 a.m.; a five-mile race at 8:15 a.m.; and a three-mile race and three-mile walk starting at 8:25 a.m. Wear your favorite Thanksgiving costume. Strollers are welcomed, but please leave your pets at home.

Awards include a special prize package to the top finishers in each category. Additionally, a uniquely designed finisher medal will be handed out at the finish line to all participants.

“Over the years, this popular holiday event has never lost touch with its mission: to provide a fun community event for all ages and all levels, promoting youth development, healthy living, community service and social responsibility as well as raising awareness and funds for the deserving youth organizations the event supports,” said Roxanne Davis, Race Director and Community Liaison of The Woodlands Family YMCAs. “Give back, give thanks, let’s run and have fun! YMCA Run Thru The Woods is a great way to begin Thanksgiving Day and kick off the holiday season.”

Register early and save. Registration ends at noon on Wednesday, November 24. There is no race day morning registration. To learn more and register for YMCA Run Thru The Woods, visit runthruthewoods.org. Follow YMCA Run Thru the Woods on Facebook. Sponsorship and volunteer opportunities available. Contact Roxanne Davis, Race Director, 281-681-6730.